the window october 2015 - Anderson Hills Christian Church

THE WINDOW OCTOBER 2015
ANDERSON HILLS CHRISTIAN CHURCH
(DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)
Update received from the “Extreme Team”
The Fellowship Hall is painted and is nearly completed. It
looks lovely and fresh. There are some finishing touches to be
accomplished and it is the Team’s hope and intent to have it all
completed by Turkey Dinner time!
The “Youth Room” is currently a work in progress. An energetic crew worked on Saturday
to prepare this space for painting on Saturday, October 3rd.
VOLUNTEER PAINTERS ARE STILL NEEDED! Contact Nancy Martin
Finishing work is still needed to complete the largest room on the left hallway and the “Junior Worship
Room” on the right hallway (between the kitchen and nursery).
New light fixtures have been installed in the hallways around Fellowship Hall.
The Team has a Financial Goal of $3,000 with $1,600 already given. Prayerfully consider
making a contribution to this fund. This money is for a variety of items needed in order to put
ALL the finishing touches in the areas currently being worked on.
The most recent group of workers to be thanked are: Gayle Roush, Addie Reese, Laurie
VanDierendonck, Susan Smith, Greg VanDierendonck, Al Eichorn, Sean Riffle and Nancy
Martin.
Next Clean-Up and Work Day is scheduled for Saturday, October 24th, 9 AM - 1 PM
IPM Mobile Pantry at AHCC
Wed. Oct 7
9 am – noon
Volunteers always needed * Contact Kathy Zwayer
Film Screening and Discussion
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
6:30-9:00 PM
Explore the legacy of slavery
through the documentary film,
"Slavery by Another Name"
Location: Lutheran Church of the Resurrection,
1950 Nagel Rd., 45255 Anderson Township
This program is free and open to the public.
Inside this issue:
Pastor’s Note
2
Prayer Requests
3
Disciples Women
4
Editorial Cinti Enquirer
5
Serving in October
7
Birthdays/Anniversaries
7
October Dates
8
Page 2
From my heart…
Once there was a church that hired a toymaker for an architect.
He made church pews so they were like crazy putty. They could be bent so people could see each other.
Once the people turned the pews back to back and it worked.
There is hardly a Sunday when they have them all in long, straight rows.
People can make the pew any shape they want depending on what they want to do.
Well, I don’t think we’ll be having crazy putty pews anytime soon but the story is a reminder that we don’t
want to become so rigid in our ways (or thinking) that we can’t try things out and see what happens.
It is great to have the choir back in our Sunday worship; it is uplifting to see new faces in the pews; it is
exciting to see the Education and Fellowship Hall areas getting a new and fresh look.
There is new energy flowing as the Worship Team meets and considers how worship can continue providing
people with the opportunity to have an encounter with God. The Ministry Team, newly formed had their first
meeting in September and they are working on prioritizing their tasks and considering goals for the months
ahead.
It is inspiring to see the generosity of people caring for people outside the church with outreach projects like
socks and underwear, critical need items for IPM and soon coats and outer wear for children.
It is encouraging to be meeting with area pastors and members of GAPP (Greater Anderson Promotes
Peace) to plan and co-ordinate learning and interactive events to help fight racism. On page 5 of this
newsletter you can read the editorial that was in the Cincinnati Enquirer which is just one outcome of our
meetings.
The Transition Team continues to meet and is currently looking at the infrastructure of the church to figure
out how things might be structured differently to meet the current needs of the congregation as well as be
appropriate for the current size of the congregation while allowing for the growth that is coming. I believe
they will have a proposal for the Board to consider in January.
Romans 12:9-21 are verses that hold good practical instructions for the church inside AND outside of the
building. Grab your Bible and take a look - simple to understand, not necessarily easy to accomplish.
I continue to thank God for each one of you - God has brought us together for a reason which we may never
completely understand but as we pray and trust, God will always show us the next step.
Blessings, Rev. Nancy
Communication Update
Communication takes many forms. The beautiful transformation that is taking place in the education and fellowship
wing says a lot. It says we care about our surroundings and want to have a pleasant, warm, welcoming environment.
It shows that we are planning for an exciting future, not struggling to hold it together or keeping a tight grip on the
past. It shows that we have people who care and who put their time and resources into their church home.
Changes are happening in the office as well. Beginning next week we start using our church management software to
build our database and groups to track attendance, streamline mailings, and overall make things much easier than
having to manage the many different lists that Lynda manually manages in the office. This software will do much
more for us as we learn how best to use its features.
These are just a couple of things happening in the realm of communication. As always, please let me know if you have
any ideas on how we can make improvements.
Thanks, Karen Serenil.
Page 3
Prayers for
Russ & Gail Halsey
Jeff Tincher
Jim McSorley
Linda Cary’s Father
Jim Hackney
Georgia & Wayne Barnes
Robert Tincher
Jeff Tincher
Linda Cary
Family of Jim McSorley
Family of Tabitha Clim
Family of Martha Drew
Thanksgivings
Linda Cary
Teri Crouch
Cindy Thomas
Blessings for the marriage of
Brad Smith and Maureen
Boeing. Wedding ceremony
took place at their home on
September 5, 2015
Blessings for the marriage of Carl Brinker and Eisha
Buch. Wedding ceremony took place in Colorado on
September 19, 2015.
Joys
Jonathan Payne
Marriage of Brad Smith &
Maureen Boeing
Don Shellabarger
Marriage of Carl Brinker &
Eisha Buch
Kathy Zwayer
Jim McSorley passed away September 16.
Services were held at Holy Trinity Church in
Batavia on Monday, September 21, 2015.
The graveside service was at
Arlington Memorial Gardens
in Mt. Healthy.
Reconciliation Ministry
Special Offering
SCHOOL YARDS NOT PRISON YARDS.
This year's theme, #ReconciliationGeneration: School Yards
Not Prison Yards, is undergirded by Psalm 78 which
reminds us of God's steadfast blessings in our past and
present, and God's faithfulness toward restorative
justice. God's unfathomable grace toward each of us
informs our courage to impact future generations for
Christ's shalom. As the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ,) we are committed to addressing racism as a sin and
restoring all of God's children to the fullness of their
humanity.
Special Offering will be received Sept 27 and Oct 4
Save the date!!
TURKEY DINNER will be on November 14, 2015
Page 4
Disciples Women
The October meeting of Disciples Women will take place on
Wednesday evening, October 14. Officers will meet at 6:30 to take care
of any business and the meeting will start at 7:00 with refreshments and
a short fellowship time, followed by our Bible Study: Red Hot Faith.
Be sure to mark your calendar now for AHCC’s annual Turkey Dinner
which is not too far away, November 14. For the second year we will
offer a Bake Sale where all kinds of desserts can be purchased to take
home. Last year’s Bake Sale was very successful so we are asking all
bakers (or occasional bakers) to bring in something to sell. Last year we
had a great variety of items: cupcakes, cake pops, breads, muffins, all
kinds of cookies and pies, and this variety made our sale very appealing.
Use your imagination and help our Bake Sale!
Disciples Women will be collecting coats for kids attending Brantner Elementary School for
our October Service project. There will be a sign up sheet available starting in October for
those wanting to purchase a coat when the opportunity becomes available. We will work
closely with a representative from Brantner who will contact us that a child is in need of a
coat, hat and gloves for the upcoming winter months. Once the need is
identified a person on the sign-up sheet will be notified to purchase the coat
within 24 to 48 hours in order for us to get the coat to the child in need. If you
want to support this service but do not think you will have time to go out and
purchase the coat you can give a donation for the coat and we will do the
shopping for you.
Thank you in advance for your support.
AHCC collected a total of 478 items for the Socks and Underwear drive. Thank
you for your generosity . Our donation will be delivered to the City Gospel
Mission soon.
September we partnered with AHCC youth to collect much needed items for
IPM. Our collection was successful and we thank you for your generosity. Our donation will be
delivered to IPM soon.
Page 5
Opinion: Anderson tackling
racism head-on
Louise Lawarre and Henry Zorn 12:34 p.m. EDT September 23, 2015
(Editorial: Cincinnati Enquirer)
Women pray Thursday at a makeshift memorial on the
sidewalk in front of Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South
Carolina, in June after the slayings of nine African Americans,
including the pastor.(Photo: AP file)
Louise Lawarre is executive director of Greater Anderson
Promotes Peace and Henry Zorn is pastor of the Lutheran Church of
the Resurrection in Anderson Township.
The shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, earlier this summer has been
deeply troubling to us and other people of faith in Anderson Township.
This act of racially motivated violence took us back to 1998 when a swastika was painted on the
home of a Jewish family in our community. That act of hatred prompted 21 congregations to respond with a
declaration that said, in part, that silence condones acts of hatred while action demonstrates our community’s
desire to be welcoming. We believe that our churches and our community continue to be bound by that
declaration.
Three months following the heinous shooting at Emanuel AME Church, racism continues to
dominate the daily news. We who live in substantially white communities like Anderson Township may be
comfortably insulated from racism – which makes it easier for us to be part of the problem.
We recently read a perspective that convicted us to the core and reminded us of why we cannot be
silent, essentially condoning acts of hatred. “It’s not hard to fume at the thought of the killer of Mother
Emanuel’s Nine,” Lisa Sharon Harper, senior director of mobilizing, wrote in the September/October issue
of Sojourners magazine. “And it feels good to click ‘like’ and share posts calling for the removal of
Confederate flags. But if we stop there, bias beats us. It is the unconscious biases of the masses that keep us
from moving forward, not the explicit biases of the few.” Conversation around this sensitive and complicated
issue of racism is not easy, but it is necessary.
In Anderson Township, a group of concerned individuals in our interfaith community, along with
members of Greater Anderson Promotes Peace, have been meeting to dialogue about racism and how we can
respond with action that transforms hatred into welcome. We are asking some questions:
•How can we, living in substantially white Anderson Township, become more aware of, informed
about and sensitive to matters of racism?
•How do we get in touch with our unconscious biases?
•How can we better understand the concerns and experiences of people of color?
We are developing a program that we will offer to our community. Our first event, Oct. 6 at Lutheran Church
of the Resurrection, 1950 Nagel Road, will be a film screening and discussion of the documentary “Slavery
by Another Name,” based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Douglas A. Blackmon. The event, 6:30-9
p.m., is open to the public.
Our conversations and planning are ongoing, and we hope to continue talking and offering programs
well into next year to grow our awareness and understanding of racism. In respect for those who died at
Mother Emanuel Church and those who continue to suffer the oppression of racism each day, we simply
cannot rest.
In Anderson Township we are attempting to do the hard work to repent of our bias and be people of
action working toward a unified vision of what it means to be community, fostering the common good of all.
Page 6
Sundays at 9:30 AM
The group is now discussing the book, Whole: A
Call to Unity in Our Fragmented World, written
by Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister
and President of the Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ).
Cleanup & Work Day at AHCC
Saturday * October 24 * 9 am - 1 pm
Contact: Sean Riffle
AHCC has been invited to share in St. Timothy’s “Blessing of the Animals” for St. Francis Day.
Sunday, October 4 at 2 pm on the lawn behind St. Tim’s. They will have a little liturgy and
then individually bless all the pets.
This event is done in conjunction with LCR.
IPM Mobile Pantry at AHCC
Wed. Oct 7
9 am – noon
Volunteers always needed
IPM’s Music with a Mission Offers Melodic Melodies
The 2 Annual Music with a Mission benefit concert will take place on October 18 at 3 p.m. at
Armstrong Chapel in Indian Hill.
The concert featuring approximately seven church choirs and musicians will benefit Inter Parish
Ministry’s (IPM) Choice Food and Clothing Pantries.
Kristy Swift, Music Director at Newtown United Methodist Church is coordinating the choirs.
Former IPM Executive Director, David Meredith will emcee the event that raises funds through a lively
‘voting process’ after each performance. Over $7,000 was raised last year.
The event will conclude with the entire ensemble of choirs performing under the direction of Ben
Basone, Music Director at Armstrong Chapel and Neal Hamlin, Music Director at Hyde Park United
Methodist Church.
Refreshments will be served in the church atrium following the concert. Prepare for an afternoon of
beautiful, inspiring music as choirs lift their voices in song.
There is no charge for the event. But, attendees will want to ‘vote’ with dollars to support IPM and
thank the musicians.
nd
Page 7
Serving in October...
Deacon and Fellowship Snack Schedule
Worship Leaders –
Greeter – Karen Serenil (10/18)
Oct 4– Worship Team
Preparers – Doug Roush (10/4)
Oct 11 – Worship Team
Cindy Thomas (10/11)
Oct 18 — Worship Team
Usher –
Oct 25 — Worship Team
Teri Crouch (10/25)
Subs – All Deacons should be prepared to sub
Junior Worship
Elders –
Oct 4th - Cinda Thompson
Oct 4th - Sean Riffle/ Scott Shellabarger
Oct 11th – Jennie Cox
Oct 11th – Laurie VanDierendonck/ Gayle Roush
Oct 18th– Laurie VanDierendonck
Oct 18th – TBA / TBA
Oct 25th - Children in Worship Today
Oct 25th – Gayle Roush/ Sean Riffle
~Church Office Info~
Pastor Hours – Rev. Nancy A. Eichorn’s office hours will vary from week to week.
Please check with her or call the church office for current hours.
Secretary Hours – Lynda’s hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm.
If you would like your name removed from our Monthly Newsletter, please respond to this email or call the
church office at (513)474-2237, and we will promptly remove your name. If you would like to receive your
newsletter in printed form, please let us know that, too. Thank you.
~AHCC Fellowship Hall Rentals~
Karate: Tuesday & Thursday 5:30 – 8:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 – 10:30 am. Contact Kim Webber at 513-233-3656.
October Birthdays
10/1
Bob Gibbs
10/3
Charlie Cox
10/5
Tony Gemma
10/7
Amy Sanders
10/10
Patricia (Hall) Crane
10/12
John Martin Jr.
Tom Moore
10/17
Greg VanDierendonck
10/18
Mary Alice Zwayer
10/26
Shannon Harwood
10/30
John Branch
10/30
Gabe Lyon
October Anniversaries
10/11 Brian and Jennie Cox
Anderson Hills Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
8119 Clough Pike
Cincinnati, OH 45244
513-474-2237
[email protected]
www.andersonhillschristianchurch.org
Rev. Nancy A. Eichorn
Interim Pastor
513-674-7144
[email protected]
Office Hours
Lynda - Secretary
T, W, Th
8:30 AM - 1 PM
Join us on Sundays
10:30 AM Worship
Junior Worship ~ Most Sundays
Patient children waiting on their parents who are at yet
another church meeting!
October Dates…
Oct 1
Oct 3
Oct 4
Oct 5
Oct 7
Oct 8
Oct 11
Oct 12
Oct 14
Oct 15
Oct 18
Oct 19
Oct 22
Oct 24
Oct 25
Oct 26
Oct 28
Oct 29
AL-ANON
Youth Room Painting
Adult Bible Study
Choir practice
SWELS @ Olive Garden
Cub Scouts
IPM Mobile Pantry
AL-ANON
Adult Bible Study
Administration Team
Choir Practice
Cub Scouts den
Board Meeting
DW Officers
DW Meeting
AL-ANON
Adult Bible Study
Ministry Team
Choir Practice
Elders
AL-ANON
AHCC Cleanup Day
Adult Bible Study
Choir Practice
Cub Scouts Pack
Transition Team
AL-ANON
7 pm
9 am
9:30 am
7 pm
11:30 am
6:30 pm
9 am—12 pm
7 pm
9:30 am
11:30 am
7 pm
6:30 pm
7 pm
6:30 pm
7 pm
7 pm
9:30 am
11:30 am
7 pm
7 pm
7 pm
9 am - 1 pm
9:30 am
7 pm
5:30 pm
6:30 pm
7 pm
The new 2015 AHCC Directories are ready!
Contact the church office if you
need an extra copy or would
like a directory mailed.
Next Board Meeting
Monday, October 12
Reports due October 5
AHCC Building Rental and Weekly meetings
*Tues
*Thurs
*Thurs
*Sat
Anderson Karate
Anderson Karate
AL-ANON
Anderson Karate
5:30 pm—8 pm
5:30 pm—8 pm
7 pm
9 am—10:30 am